Counterbalancing means for movable devices



16 1927. Aug G. KLEIN COUNTERBALANCING'MEANS FOR MOVABLE DEVICES Filed Dec. 2a, 1923 s Shoots -Siheoti I 1,639,094 Aug. 16, G. KLEIN vCOUN'I.IEIRBALHKNCING MEANS FOR MOVABLE DEVICES Filed Dec. 28, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 1927. Aug G. KLEIN COUNTERBALANCING MEANS FOR MOVABLE DEVICES Filed pee. 2a. 1923 s Sheets-Shoot 3 Patented Aug. 16,- 1927.

' UNITED STATES oneness mm, or'mnrs, manner.

oormrnamnancme MEANS ron movnntn nnv'rons.

Application filed December- 28, 1923, Serial No. 683,268 and in Belgium January 2; 1928.

This invention relates to counterbalancing means for movable devices under the control of resilient systems and refers more 'particularly although not exclusively to 5 means for counterbalancingv the sashes of the windows of vehicles, asthis is the practical application of the inventionwhich appearsto ofi'er the greatest advantages.

The object of the invention is so to construct means of the class in question that they are more simple and so that they enable the device which is to be counterbalanced to be operated with relatively small power. According to the general principle of the invention the counterbalancing means comprises at least one group of parts adapted to oscillate and a corresponding resilient system, one extremity of which system is fixed. The group of parts is constituted by a two armed lever adapted to oscillate around a fixed pivot. To the arms of this lever are pivoted respectively the movable extremity of the resilient system, and one end of a connecting link. The other end of this connecting link ispivoted to a lever arm in rigid connection with the arm which supports'the device to be. counterbalanced. The two last mentioned arms are adapted to oscillate around a fixed pivot. The whole arrangement is such that whatever may be the position as regards its height of the device to be counterbalanced and the angular position'of the oscillating group of parts, the device is substantially in equilibrium. and is adapted toibe maneuvered with very little force.

The invention also comprises certain other constructional details which are preferably utilized at the same time and which will 40 more fully explained hereafter;

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying draw ings, but it is to be observed that thedescription and drawings are given merely by way of example. Fig. l of these drawings shows in diagrammatic elevation a complete mechanismmounted in the window casing'of a vehicle and adapted to permit the sash being coune .terbalanced in the invention.

Figs.-- 2, 3 and 4 show to a larger scale the manner provided for by one another.

and as to a part respectively in elevation, in developed section on 3-3, .Fig. 2, and in end view, a portion of the mechanism.

The particularapplication illustrated in the drawings is the one in which it is de sired to counterbalance. the sash a of the vehicle in all positions which'it can occupy b is a species of framework on the interior Y of which is mounted a groupof part's'adapted to oscillate bet-weentwo platese fixed at each side of the frame. The oup of parts is connected on the one han to the sash a and on the other hand to a resilient system, formed in the present casewith helical springs d which have their axes arallel to The springs may "ave their axes in the same plane-or in two or more planes parallel to one another andin the latter case may be arranged in staggered or quincuncial formation.

The extremities of-the springs are fixed respectively to two pieces dandd. The piece d is hinged-as will be seen in connection with the group of parts, and the other d is fixed to the frame '6 and is provided advantageously with means for permitting the initial tension of the springs to be regulated.

a lever f with two arms mounted on a spindle c pivoted to the plates '0. This lever is provided towards its extremities with The oscillating group of parts comprises.

two pivots f and 7'', parallel to the spindle e g'is a lever arm carried by and rotating 'witha spindle c which is alsocarried in bearings in connection with the plates 0.. The'free end of, this arm 9 is provided with a pivot pin g parallel to the spindle a.

h is a connecting link pivoted at oneend to the pivot pin For the lever f and at the other end to the .pivot g of-the lever g.

' e is another lever-arm mounted upon and rotatable withthe spindle 0?. At its outer or free end this arm e is'adapted to supportthe sash a, preferably with the intervention of a grooved pulley. A The piece d to which are connected the movable extremities of the springs d is pivoted to the pivot f of the lever 7.

The whole device is'so arranged that the,

' wards it tenses the springs d by means of the arm 9, .the connecting link h and the lever f.

\ of its path of travel will remain in rium. This result moreover is obtaine With the various parts properly proportioned and mounted as previouslyexpla ned,

the operation is substantially as follows When the sasha is moved downwards it causes thearm 6 also to oscillate downwards. Through the spindle 0 this causes the lever g to oscillate through a like angle. The connecting link it being operated by the lever arm 9 causes the lever f to oscillate and this in turn moves the piece (1 in the direction in which the tension of the springs d is increased.

When the sash a is raised 1t 1s assisted by the supporting arm e which then oscillates towards the upper position through the action of the springs d operating through the group of oscillating parts, the movements in this case being the reverse of those previously described- .With this construction if care be taken properly-to choose the distances between the fixed pivotal axes c and 0 and the movable pivotal axes f f 9 the length of the connecting link k, so that a certain functional relation is established with regard to the weight ofthe sash and the power of the springs employed, then for each posit1on as .regards height which can be occupied by the sash there is such a relation between the different lever arms that the power given 'out by the springs when finally exerted under the sash supplies a force which is substantially suflicient to compensate for the weight of the sash. Under these conditions the sash can be maneuvered with the greatest facility, and when left to itself at any point uilibwith very simple mechanism and one in which the springs occupy a minimum amount of space. As can be seen in Fig. 2, the lever g is connected to spindle c by an ordinaryset screw so that the angular relation of members g and f, and hence the length of the link k which is utilized, may be varied.

It willbe a preciated that the oscillating members can e otherwise constructed than asdescribed; in connection with the drawing, for example a construction is illustrated in which the supporting'arm e, the lever f and the lever g are duplicated, the connecting link h being single. Thelr method of interconnectioncan be clearly observed .from the drawing.

'dle, the adjustable connection of said second constructional embodiments which have been illustrated, or described. It includes all modifications coming within a fair interpretation of the claims.

Amongst these modifications may be mentioned the one in which the relative positions of the pivotal axes of the oscillating devices are so modified that at the end of its path of travel the sash is not absolutely in equi- 8 librium.

For instance there may be a slight excess of upward pressure tending to keep the sash closed. Or again, in the case of a sash with fastening means for holding the same closed 8 there may be a tendency on. disengaging the fastening for the sash to drop slightly before the buffering action of the spring mechanism comes into play.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let- 9 ters Patent of the United States of America is 1. In a counterbalancing apparatus, spring means having a movable end, a pivoted bellcrank lever mounted on a spindle be ow 9 which its arms extend and having one arm thereof connected to said movable end, the other arm of said lever being connected to a link, saidlink being connected to a pivoted lever mounted on a spindle located below said first-mentioned spindle, said last-mentioned lever being adapted to turn in unison with an arm'which is adapted to contact with the body to be counterbalanced.

2. In a counterbalancing apparatus, an 1 arm mounted upon a first spindle and adapted to contact at the upper end thereof with the body to be counterbalanced, a second arm adjustably mounted on said first spin-,

arm on said spindle permitting the variation of the angle between said arms, a bellcrank lever mounted upon a second spindle located above said first spindle, springmeans having amovable end-connected to one of the arms of said bell crank lever, and a link'connecting the second arm mounted on said first spindle to the other arm of said bell crank lever. 4

3. In a counterbalancing apparatus, the 3 combination of a pair of fixed spindles arranged one above the other, a air of arms mounted upon the lower spind e and being relatively adjustable so that the an le between them can be varied, a bell-era lever I mounted upon the second and upper spindle and having its arms normally below the upper spindle, a link connecting one arm of the said bell-crank leverto .one of the arms mounted upon the lower spindle, and 3 s'pring-actua zted means attached to the second one of the arms of said bell-crank lever to arm of the said bell-crank lever. one of the arms mounted on said first spin- 4. In a counterbalancmg device a pair of dle, and spring actuated means attached to 10 spindles, a pair of arms mounted in adjusts.- the second arm of said bell-crank lever.

' 5 ble angular relation to one another on one of In testimony whereof I have hereunto said s indles, a bell-crank lever mounted on set my hand.

the ot er of said spindles, a link connecting GEORGES KLEIN. 

